ATVs and other off-road vehicles won’t be allowed on municipal land here, but the township will otherwise stick to existing provincial regulations regarding their use.
Last month, Mapleton council directed staff to investigate the crafting of a draft bylaw and to bring back a report addressing issues such as definitions, enforcement and communication to the public regarding regulation of off-road vehicles.
The township has been exploring the idea of implementing an ATV bylaw since the summer of 2017.
In a report at the May 22 council meeting CAO Manny Baron said staff researched bylaws used by other municipalities around the province.
“As you can imagine, there are several versions of bylaws and several different provisions and regulations,” the report states.
“In doing the research I believe the Township of Mapleton should default to the existing provincial regulations already in place as it relates to the use of off-road vehicles.”
Provincial regulations allow off-road vehicles to be driven:
– directly across a highway; or
– on a highway, if the vehicle is designed to travel on more than two wheels and the driver is a farmer using the vehicle for agricultural purposes, or a licensed trapper using the vehicle for trapping purposes.
Drivers must also be licensed and wear helmets and the vehicles must be insured.
The only exception recommended by Mapleton staff was a prohibition of ATVs or any motorized vehicles on certain lands.
“We feel the bylaw should detail the fact that no ATV or motorized vehicle should be allowed on any municipally owned land,” the report states.
The report also notes that ensuring no ATVs or motorized vehicles are allowed on township-owned properties “could actually reduce maintenance costs in the long run.”
Councillor Dennis Craven noted he recently discussed the topic of off-road vehicles with Wellington County OPP Inspector Scott Lawson.
“He is not in favour of having an ATV bylaw for us here, other than as Manny suggested referring back to the provincial,” said Craven.
“He felt if you’re not going to have one that’s influenced by all the counties, or all the municipalities that surround our municipality … [there’s] not going to be much point in us having it at all. It’s hard to enforce.”
Farm safety push
Ottens noted the Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Association has pushed for county-wide regulation, “but that wasn’t fruitful.”
She pointed out that just as Mapleton often looks to other municipalities for examples of bylaws that work in certain situations, “Maybe this one is the one that’s going to be the guideline for everyone else.”
“I too like the format that we’re going with,” said councillor Lori Woodham.
“If anything it was an opportunity for us to communicate and that would be the key, again, communicating where the ATVs are not allowed to go and what our residents can do.”
Woodham continued, “For the safety of our trails and being able to protect them, I hope our community will support this and then call for the OPP to come … and enforce it.”
Councillor Michael Martin said, “I think this proposal is perfectly suited for where we are now as a municipality.
“Right now if you would allow ATVs on municipal roads, where are they going? Right?
“There’s nowhere to go other than to travel on the municipal roads. We don’t have a trail system that they can be trying to get to, or an off-road park.”
Martin noted the municipality could revisit the issue “if at some point we create ATV trails.”
Craven said he’s seen many examples of the vehicles being used incorrectly.
“In the last week I don’t think there was one day there wasn’t three or four ATVs going by on the road and it’s getting kind of dangerous,” Craven said.
Mayor Neil Driscoll said, “I think it’s important that we put something in place to protect and guard our residents because it’s been a big question for a long time.”
Council accepted the report and directed staff to draft a bylaw based on the recommendations.
